In its sixth year, the FBO strives to build parity between the failed and the successful.

Friday, January 30, 2009

FBO: 'Super Bowl Preview'

CARDINALS VS STEELERSThe more I think of it, the more I'm convinced the Arizona Cardinals have the best helmet in professional football. It's not just the slightly stern cardinal, but the lack of a stripe AND a white helmet.

The 32-team NFL currently only has six white-based helmets: the Cards, the NY Jets (returned from the 'macho' kelly green '80s version), the Titans, the Chargers (back from the horrible '70s/80s blue helmet), the Colts and the Dolphins. A handful of other teams wimped out on white helmets over the years -- the Patriots, the Eagles, the Bucs, the Cowboys, the Rams, the Bills -- all of whom have, at some point, gone tuff with charcoal, testicular gray or Ford Truck blue or Fist-Punch green.

A number of teams lack a stripe front-to-back down the center of the helmet, but only the Cards dare do it on a white helmet.

UNNECESSARY CHANGE, BUT ONE WITH HEROIC RESTRAINTIn 2005, the Cardinals -- after years of slacker play -- caved into the machismo streak that saw the Bucs, Broncos, Pats tough up their uniforms (and win Super Bowls) -- by making their longtime Cardinal logo, a bit less like 'a parakeet' and a bit tougher.

It's unfortunate, but that the change is so subtle -- and that they inexplicably kept the non-macho white helmet -- it's hard to not see the team's restraint as a bit admirable. It's amazing they didn't opt for something like the Ravens helmet -- all black with a very fierce, life-taking bird. I mean, they fooled no one with a change no one noticed but a couple Phoenix sports writers. And it's certainly better than the copycat Louisville Cardinals helmet, which shows the namesake bird... WITH TEETH?

Quick Facts:

In 1969, Super Bowl III -- between the Jets and the Colts -- is the only all-white-helmet matchup, with Joe Namath famously guaranteeing his underdog Jets would win, and pulling it off.

Including the Cards this year, 11 white-helmet teams have made the Super Bowl. So far they have a 5-5 record.

5 comments:

Hours of pre-game blathering about the history of the teams by the overpaid talking head blatherers, and none of them mentioned Card-Pitt? And Rob (who is technically on hiatus) uncovers this scoop? I definitely think you should be ESPN's investigative journalist. Their statisticians may be able to tell you how many post-season 4th quarter come from behind victories there have been by teams with 50+ penalty yards average per game and a left handed back-up quarterback. But the white helmet thing took some research.

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THE FBO

Created in 2006, the Failed Bands of Oklahoma (FBO) is a collective that spans borders and time zones. To create worldwide awareness for failed bands, the FBO is staging 'FBO Night in the Panhandle: A Celebration of Failure', tentatively scheduled for September 2009. Also the FBO's plans to re-stage the historic Battle for Hutchens have been postponed until we can ensure a safe environment for FBO re-enactors.